Concerns mount in Denver about Brian Dawkins’ neck

Broncos safety Brian Dawkins re-injured his neck on Sunday against the Bills, and there are concerns in Denver that he may have played his last game in the NFL.

Dawkins himself told people after the game not to be worried, but Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that others in Denver are worried that he won’t ever be able to get back on the field. His neck has become a recurring problem, causing him to miss all or parts of four different games this year.

In the short term, losing Dawkins would really hurt the Broncos’ defense as they attempt to beat the Chiefs next week and win the AFC West. The safety position is especially concerning because the Broncos’ other starting safety, Quinton Carter, suffered a back injury against the Bills, although he is expected to be back on the field against the Chiefs.

But the bigger concern is Dawkins’ long-term health. The 38-year-old Dawkins has been through so many collisions in his 16-year NFL career that it’s not surprising that he’s now experiencing neck problems. But it is alarming. And it might be the end of the line for a great player.

With all due respect, Polamalu and reed, could not even come close to what this man does to a football team. This guy is the true impitome of what a leader is. He is a god among men. He effects Everyone that is comes in contact with. When you meet him, it like meeting god himself. The dude is a mans man. And he never looked right in orange and blue.

I hope you see the dangers and retire BDawk….. I grew up with you as my sports hero, you were the embodiment of leadership, desire, and heart on the football field for the Birds. A hall of fame safety if I’ve ever seen one…. Please take care of your health, come home to philly in the media and be treated like the hall of famer you are….

Please ship him back to Philly and let him retire as an Eagle. Its not worth putting yourself at serious risk. He’s had a phenomenal career, one of the greatest the game has seen. I’d love to see him as a safeties coach one day, he’d be the best motivator for any team. He can show the young players a thing or two about what it means to play in the NFL.

I’m a lifelong Redskins fan and I have a ton of respect for Dawkins. I am glad the Eagles got rid of him and happier still that he continued to play very well. (Would the Eagles have done better this year with him as a leader there?)

This is a time for the Broncos to step up and say we are not going to put you out there and watch you ruin the rest of your life by getting paralized. A great run and let’s leave it at that. One day contract in Philly and retire in one piece!

Come to think of it why is nobody worried about Peyton getting permanently damaged? Three neck operations and all anybody talks about is getting him back on the field. He certainly doesn’t need the money.

B-Dawk the Hawk! Thanks for all of the memories over 16 years… Truly one of the greatest to play the game of football! I will never forget going to the Linc and experiencing when B-Dawk would sprint out of the tunnel!!! He would get that stadium rocking!!! Good luck and to good Health!!!

Dawk had Polamalu-esque hitting power and range but unlike the hairball he could cover as well. The Eagles opted to let him go a year early vice a year late,but he still has played well for the donkeys.

After what Peyton has gone through this year, I would think Brian and other players with reoccuring neck problems would think very hard about continuing their careers and take seriously how this is going to affect the rest of their lives.

It makes me sick that Dawkins is NEVER mentioned as one of the greatest of his time. He should be a Hall of Famer when it’s all said and done. He revolutionized the safety position as the first to, not only make plays in the secondary, but also blitz as effective as any other defensive player. He’s a beast, plays with as much intensity as any other player in the league including Ray Lewis.

Dawkins is a hero no matter where he goes or what he does. I don’t know if he will choose to retire with the team that first believed in him or the one that kept believing when Philly stopped. Either way, I’m glad Denver has had him for these last years and his impact will be seen for years to come. He has to put health and family above the game, but it would be a damn fool to claim he hasn’t always given it his all.

Brian Dawkins, a top three safety this decade. I will never forget your hit on Alge Crumpler in the 2004 NFC Championship game, and your speech afterwards. But the one thing some people are forgetting is that, it isn’t that the Eagles didn’t want him anymore, or stopped believing, they offered him a new contract, it’s just that Denver offered more, and he took it. If this is the end, Philly Nation will miss you, Weapon X!

Dawkins is older-than-dirt and still plays the game hard and fast and is a phenomenal leader. He’s listed as questionable and, whether he plays or not, hopefully the injury is ‘not one of long-term consequence. I can see him playing productively ’til 40 if he wants to.

This man deserves a ring… He will definitely be getting that gold jacket someday, but I wish he could have gotten a ring. Who knows… Maybe there is some magic left in Denver this year!
Love you B-Dawk! Get well soon, and just think long term health.
A great leader, competitor, and man.
So glad that you came to Denver for a few years.
Sincerely,
– Every Broncos fan out there